When you think of Halloween at Walt Disney World, your first thought probably involves Magic Kingdom in some way, right? Those beloved Mickey pumpkin wreaths lining Main Street, the Headless Horseman leading the Boo To You Parade, your family trick or treating along at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party… or perhaps your mind goes to the iconic year-round spook house, the Haunted Mansion. But, did you know there’s an attraction with a Halloween backstory, and it’s forever stuck on October 31st? There’s even year-round jack-o-lanterns on display! Let’s drop into Disney’s Hollywood Studios…
Hollywood, 1939. Amid the glitz and the glitter of a bustling young movie town at the height of its golden age, the Hollywood Tower Hotel.
Tower of Terror Backstory
We’re diving deep into The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror‘s backstory, as there’s some S.E.A.-level character lore here:
On October 31st, 1939, the prestigious Hollywood Tower Hotel in Los Angeles hosted an exclusive Halloween party for the city’s elite. The event took place in the Tip Top Club, a nightclub located on the thirteenth floor of the hotel’s central tower. On the day of the celebration, a staff member named Cadwallader conducted an inspection of the maintenance service elevators. The exact timing of this inspection in relation to the party’s events remains a mystery. Some believe Cadwallader to be a demonic entity linked to the supernatural realm of the 5th Dimension, which had increasingly influenced the hotel.
The entertainment for the evening featured the “Silver Lake Sisters”—Dottie, Dolly, and Ethel Bounds—who were known for their vaudeville performances under the name “Fiddler, Fifer and Practical.” (Bonus lore: You can spot Easter eggs related to the Silver Lake Sisters at Disney California Adventure, where they are featured as the proprietors of the park’s Starbucks, Fiddler, Fifer & Practical Café. Next time you visit, be sure to check out the photographs and advertisements of their performances adorning the walls!) Among the distinguished guests were child star Sally Shine, her nanny Emeline Partridge, actor Gilbert London, performance artist Carolyn Crosson, and representatives from the nearby G-Force Records label.
The night of the party was marked by a fierce storm, especially as Emeline, Sally, Gilbert, and Carolyn entered an elevator from the lobby with a bellhop named Dewey Todd. At 8:05 PM, as they ascended, a bolt of paranormal lightning from the 5th Dimension struck the hotel, causing the elevators to plummet and trapping those inside. They were spirited away, becoming ghosts bound to the hotel. The twin towers that housed the elevators were demolished and transformed into a portal to the 5th Dimension.
The fate of the other guests at the party remains uncertain, although it’s known that at least one representative from G-Force Records managed to escape… Following that fateful night, the hotel was closed, with management claiming no responsibility for any further incidents. It remained shuttered for fifty-five years, frozen in time to the Halloween of 1939, filled with abandoned luggage and clocks stuck at 8:05 PM, the moment of the lightning strike.
The tragedy cast a shadow over Sunset Boulevard, leading to a decline in the area’s prosperity, with G-Force Records particularly struggling… until they rebranded and opened a studio next door, which now houses Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. WOW.
Throughout the events of October 31st, 1939, a multidimensional being from the Twilight Zone known as “The Narrator” – Rod Serling – watched over the scene. While it’s unclear if he was present during the elevator incident, he observed it with omniscience, navigating the unfolding events and documenting what had yet to occur. When the hotel reopened in 1994, the Narrator presented potential visitors with a “lost episode” of The Twilight Zone, recounting the dark history of that Halloween night to illuminate the hotel’s chilling past.
Happy Halloween!
Next time you drop in to Tower of Terror, be sure to spot the year-round Jack-o-lanterns on display in the windows just outside the attraction exit and gift shop!
Legend has it, the Hollywood Tower Hotel was actually struck by lightning during construction back in the day at Disney-MGM Studios. Maybe it is all real…
Thanks for tuning in, let me know if you learned something new about the Tower of Terror! Do you have a favorite fun fact or detail I didn’t mention here?
Wishing you a safe and happy Halloween!
